Prospector, "very clear and
convincin', but the police aren't open to argyment--they act on
instinct."

"Armed with a writ, a policeman is like a small boy with a shotgun,"
remarked Moonlight--"he must let it off. I don't say you're guilty,
Tresco, but I say the minions of the Law will have you in their clutches
if you don't make yourself scarce."

"An' just as I was accumulating the one little pile of my life,"
murmured Benjamin. "Sometimes I think the gods show incompetence in the
execution of their duty; sometimes I think there ain't no gods at all,
but only a big, blind Influence that blunders on through Creation,
trampling promiscuous on small fry like me." He pulled at his pipe
contemplatively. "Decamp, is it? Obscure my fairy-like proportions from
the common gaze? But who's to look after my interests here? What's to
become of my half of the gold yet ungot?"

"Can't you trust a mate?" said Bill. "Ain't I acted square so far? What
are you gettin' at? I'll work the claim to its last ounce, and then I'll
go whacks, same as if you'd bin here all the time. Then you can leave
the country. Till then I'll put you away in a hiding-place where all the
traps in the blanky country"--Bill had worked on Australian fields, and
showed it in his speech--"won't find you, not if they search for years."

Scarlett rose. He had put on his garments, now dry and warm. "So-long,
Benjamin," he said. "You may be the biggest criminal unhung, for all I
know, but you have one thing in your favour: if you robbed those mails
it must have been for the benefit of another man."

Moonlight bade good-bye, but as though to make up for his mate's
aspersion, said, "I know nothing of this business, but I know the
police. If they're not turned into a holy show when they set foot in
this camp to look for you, may I never find another ounce of gold. Keep
your end up, Benjamin. So-long." And he followed his mate into the
darkness.

The Prospector was wrapped in thought. He sat, gazing into the fire, for
fully ten minutes. Then he said, "There's three ways--the Forks, the
Saddle, and the Long Valley. I give 'em my own names. The Saddle's the
safest. It's a bit of a tough climb, but it's sure. There's no hurry,
but we must leave here at dawn, before these newsters reach the
claim, which Moonlight'll see isn't jumped. So we'll sleep happy and
comfortable, pack our swags just before daylight, take all our gold
along with us, and cook our tucker when we ma